NRL facing separate financial claims from players and chairmen
The Australian
May 25, 2015 12:00AM
The NRL is facing the prospect of financial contretemps on two fronts.
Not only are some of the games most powerful clubs seeking a greater share of revenue, the players are also in the throes of scouring the NRLs books as they attempt to discover whether they should be getting a greater cut of a bigger pie. The clubs and players, whose interests are often at loggerheads, find their interests intertwined. Under the terms of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Rugby League Players Association has the right to review the game's finances.
The relevant clause states that by March 1, the NRL and RLPA jointly undertake a review of the profitability of the game in Australia, focusing in particular on the finances of the NRL, National Youth Competition and representative football. That process is already under way, creating the prospect that the players union could seek an increase in the salary cap for the final two years of the current CBA.
The repercussions are significant. In the case of Daly Cherry-Evans, who continues to make ambiguous statements over his future and the prospects of honouring his commitment to join the Gold Coast Titans next season, it could mean Manly are able to further increase their offer to the Queensland and Australia representative.
Of greater concern may be the ramifications for clubs, and the NRL, if the RLPA is successful in arguing the players should receive more money. The end result could be an increase in the salary cap, which will heap additional financial pressure on clubs who are already crying poor. They, in turn, will stick their hands out.
The NRL will find it difficult to say no. The game's governing body is wading in rivers of gold. Only recently, they trumpeted a new deal with betting agencies that is in line to bring in an additional $30 million over the next three years.
No doubt the RLPA read with interest when that figure was splashed across the back pages of newspapers. State of Origin, already an omnipotent force on the sporting landscape, continues to grow at a rapid rate. More than 70,000 people are expected to be at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night for Origin I.
Melbournes MCG will be bursting at the seams for Origin II. A sellout at Suncorp Stadium for the final game is considered a fait accompli. Amid that backdrop, some clubs and their respective chairmen continue to agitate for change.
The mood between those powerbrokers and the NRL borders on toxic. Emotions are running high ahead of a meeting between the NRL and chairmen where grievances will be aired.
Weighing heavily in favour of Grant and chief executive Dave Smith is the emphatic support of the Queensland Rugby League, which holds a powerful position under the commission's structure. Constitutional change is nigh on impossible without the QRLs support. QRL chairman Peter Betros insists his organisation is 100 per cent in support of the commission, has no complaints and would never consider voting against them.
